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Praising free speech while trampling on it
It was Newspaper Day 2020 at the South Dakota Legislature. The morning was filled with press conferences featuring the leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties. Then newspaper editors and publishers hosted a lunch at the Ramkota for their legislators, using the time to explain why House Bill 1241, which sought to change the definition […]
Challenge accepted: Reading Noem’s book yields even more damning info
Like many South Dakotans, I was intrigued by Gov. Kristi Noem’s chances for being selected as Donald Trump’s running mate, and I paid attention to the release of her book, “No Going Back.” When her promotional appearances turned into the book tour from hell, it was hard to look away. During an interview with Stuart […]
Primary upsets could cause a hard right turn in the Legislature
It has been known for some time that there are two Republican parties in the South Dakota Legislature. Now one of them is getting bigger. The Republican primary earlier this month saw 14 legislators defeated. Add to that 21 Republican legislators who chose not to seek reelection or were term-limited in their chamber and did […]
With marijuana on the ballot, it’s not just about good times. It’s also about money.
To the casual observer, it might look like South Dakotans are addicted to voting on recreational marijuana. Legalizing grass was on the ballot in 2020, 2022 and will be again in 2024. For the backers of legalized marijuana, the high point came in 2020 when voters here approved a constitutional amendment with 54% of the […]
The funding of a civic engagement center is its own civics lesson
Rep. Scott Odenbach has to wonder why he went to so much trouble. The Spearfish Republican was the driving force behind two legislative attempts to create a center for civic engagement at Black Hills State University. Little did he know, all he had to do was put in a good word with the Joint Appropriations […]
What further Trump sins and crimes will SD’s highest elected officials excuse?
There used to be a time when you could count on how Republicans would react to the news of the day. They stood for the rule of law and high moral standards. Through the Trump years we have seen those standards erode and vanish in other states. Recently the Trumpian infection was on full display […]
This year’s closed Republican primary could be the last of its kind in South Dakota
Tuesday’s primary election could be the last of its kind in South Dakota. In November, voters will consider Constitutional Amendment H which, if approved, would drastically change the way primaries are conducted in this state. Amendment H would open the primaries to all registered voters, regardless of party affiliation or the lack of party affiliation. […]
Bipartisanship alive with congressional delegation, not so much with governor
South Dakota Searchlight readers were recently treated to two very different views of bipartisanship and governance. First came the story about an analysis of bipartisanship in the U.S. Congress. Released by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, the report had good news about South Dakota’s congressional delegation’s willingness […]
Hold the phone: Anti-abortion calls are anti-democracy
The first use of a new law that allows petition signers to withdraw their signatures turned ugly recently. The law was designed specifically to allow people who signed an abortion rights petition to withdraw their signatures. Put into use, the practical application of the law has ranged from annoying to insulting. The plot thickened when […]
Property taxes, sales taxes on a collision course in South Dakota
In the last legislative session, lawmakers weren’t able to agree on any significant changes to the property tax system. House Bill 1208, requiring the director of equalization to adjust certain agricultural land values, failed in the House on a 25-44 vote. Senate Bill 167, limiting annual valuation increases in owner-occupied single-family dwellings, failed in the […]
‘No Going Back’ for Noem after trying too hard to impress Trump
These are tough times for Kristi Noem. She’s frequently the butt of jokes from late-night comedians. She’s been lampooned on “Saturday Night Live.” Her plight inspires memes on the internet: Run, Cricket! Run! In one of the roughest book tours in the entire history of print, Noem finds herself defending the killing of a family […]
Can South Dakota afford to keep Kristi Noem on its payroll?
Whether it’s her hairstyle, dental work or feud with the state’s tribes, at this point it’s impossible to consider Gov. Kristi Noem’s actions without looking through the lens of her perpetual tryout to serve as vice president in the next Donald Trump administration. Her problems with the tribes seem ready-made for the MAGA faithful. It […]